For decades The Embers have been making music by playing a mix of rhythm and blues and heart and soul.
Rhythm and Blues became the foundation and essence of SOUL music and the Motown sound, but in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida and Alabama the name that applies is "Beach Music". Bobby Tomlinson, drummer and the leader of the band, believes that Beach Music is music with a memory. Others believe that Beach Music is simply lyrics that are easy to sing with and simple melodies and pretty harmonies that accompany them.
To say "The Embers play Beach Music" is an understatement. After seventeen albums, numerous single releases, THE EMBERS are one of the most popular bands as well as one of the most active groups in the country. THE EMBERS boast an average of three-hundred dates per year all ranging from Toronto to Florida, and westward to California and Hawaii
Over the years they've played for presidents and princes, students and bankers, at the beach and in the city, on record and in concert.
A musical marvel, the EMBERS have survived disco, punk, new wave, and hip-hop and continue to take the stage as one of the most entertaining bands to ever perform.
They've been inducted into the South Carolina Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and were named North Carolina's Official Musical Ambassadors. They've opened for the Rolling Stones, done commercials for Budweiser, played the Olympics and President Clinton's inauguration, and created the soundtrack for endless summers. THE EMBERS were involved in a video/commercial for the Sands Hotel in Atlantic City where their captivating, premier performance resulted in a return engagement for the past New Year's Eve.
The EMBERS last album, "Beach Music, Super Collaboration", an album of internationally known recording artists, received international critical acclaim and evoked the best of memories and emotions for anyone who has been touched by the magic of Beach Music and introduce newcomers to the same passion that has made these enchanting melodies one of the greatest music phenomena of all time. The new album, “The Show Must Go On” is being produced by Charles Wallert (George Benson, O.C. Smith, The Main Ingredient, Dionne Warwick, etc) with compositions by Wallert ("Brenda") and multi-Grammy nominee Jimmy George ("I'll Always Love You", "Just To See Her") among others. It is scheduled for an early summer 2007 release.
Pepsi signed The Embers to a sponsorship in 2003 and released a commercial performed by The Embers to the title tune of their new CD, "Beach Music",
THE EMBERS of today consist of: Bobby Tomlinson (leader/drummer), Jerry Tellier (Lead Vocalist), Wayne Free (Lead Vocalist/Trombone), Jeff Grimes (Guitar/Vocals), Andy Swindell (Keyboards), Stephen Pachuta (Trumpet) and Josh Campbell (Bass). THE EMBERS are truly one of the finest entertainment experiences of our lifetime.
If you've seen their show once, you've undoubtedly come back for more.